On almost all Android devices (and almost all mobile devices of any sort, for that matter) you don't have full control over your system.

On a Windows computer, for example, you've got administrator accounts. One or more user who has full rights to do anything. On a Linux or Mac OS X computer, this administrative account is called the "root" account. Whatever it's called, most people have come face to face with a prompt saying "You don't have permission to do this." or a prompt to enter credentials for an administrative account before continuing.

Android is actually based on Linux. You have a front-end - all that stuff you see when using your tablet or phone - sitting atop a version of Linux. However, since your access to the device all comes through the android front-end, you don't have that same full access you have on a desktop computer. You're basically sitting completely within a program that doesn't have administrative powers.

Rooting your device is a process that allows you to have full access. The process is different on different devices (I've got a tutorial here on doing it on the Vox) but it involves installing a program called Superuser. Superuser acts as a gatekeeper of sorts. Any other app that wants to perform an administrative function (ie, that needs root access) can ask Superuser for that permission. Superuser then prompts you to accept or deny that request.

This opens up a lot of options in terms of what an application can do. For example, backup utilities can only back up all of your data if they have root access. Another example is taking screenshots. Android has no built-in screenshot tool and if you want to use a screenshot app, you need root. There are all sorts of other applications for rooted devices and the uses are varied as with regular apps.

On almost all Android devices (and almost all mobile devices of any sort, for that matter) you don't have full control over your system.

On a Windows computer, for example, you've got administrator accounts. One or more user who has full rights to do anything. On a Linux or Mac OS X computer, this administrative account is called the "root" account. Whatever it's called, most people have come face to face with a prompt saying "You don't have permission to do this." or a prompt to enter credentials for an administrative account before continuing.

Android is actually based on Linux. You have a front-end - all that stuff you see when using your tablet or phone - sitting atop a version of Linux. However, since your access to the device all comes through the android front-end, you don't have that same full access you have on a desktop computer. You're basically sitting completely within a program that doesn't have administrative powers.

Rooting your device is a process that allows you to have full access. The process is different on different devices (I've got a tutorial here on doing it on the Vox) but it involves installing a program called Superuser. Superuser acts as a gatekeeper of sorts. Any other app that wants to perform an administrative function (ie, that needs root access) can ask Superuser for that permission. Superuser then prompts you to accept or deny that request.

This opens up a lot of options in terms of what an application can do. For example, backup utilities can only back up all of your data if they have root access. Another example is taking screenshots. Android has no built-in screenshot tool and if you want to use a screenshot app, you need root. There are all sorts of other applications for rooted devices and the uses are varied as with regular apps.

I understand that you're pro rooting, but please be sure to let people know that rooting their device likely voids the warranty. It may be very low risk with android devices, but it's still a risk.

I understand that you're pro rooting, but please be sure to let people know that rooting their device likely voids the warranty.

Voiding the warranty just because of rooting would probably won't hold much in font of a judge.
It's more to scare people away, and be able to say "screw you" when they are sue rooting and other stuff actually caused the problem.

Voiding the warranty just because of rooting would probably won't hold much in font of a judge.
It's more to scare people away, and be able to say "screw you" when they are sue rooting and other stuff actually caused the problem.

No one is talking about lawsuits, I'm talking about if you brick your Vox trying to root it will Kobo honour the warranty if you call up and say "Oh hey I killed while rooting it".

I'm not against rooting, just saying be very careful about listing the possible downsides when you're talking to someone who doesn't even know the definition of rooting.

I would guess it would say it in the warranty... I don't have one so I can't go look to be sure but almost every device like this has clauses in the warranty voiding it in cases where the software has been tampered with.

If it doesn't, then cool, but I'd be very surprised and I'd still say be sure to warn people of potential risks when rooting.